Am I a runner?

So 90 days has come & gone! There are a lot of things I did not do and some I did…I DID keep going but seemed to have switched over to biking more often than running….have not been out to run is entirely too long actually.

Today I wanted to run.

I thought that was weird.

Then I looked at the calendar are realized that my first day in this journey was Jan 19!!

Soooooooo….this begs the question…..

Am I a runner??????

I would have to say that I am a beginner runner if anything but a runner none-the-less because I really do enjoy it after these 90 days.

Whodathunk?

slooooow going.

I did as promised & went out first thing Sunday morning and as I was running I kept thinking..

 

“my time is going to be great! I am running much further distances at a time than ever before [since I started running again, that is]”

 

But then I got home & figured out that my mile even with all that running is STILL over 15 minutes! How the heck am I still so slow?

 

Seriously…

 

How long does it take to get from a 15 minute mile to a 10 minute mile?

 

I want a 10 minute mile..

 

like…now.

 

So I am struggling a little with being disappointed in myself for that. I feel like I should be improving on my time at this point especially since I am doing more actual running & less walking…do I really walk as fast as I run cause that is really kinda pathetic.

 

yeeouch.

So I was so excited that after my first time out in my new Vibrams my legs & feet were not sore…so I went again.

Then I was afraid to get out of my bed this morning cause I thought someone had sawed off my feet in the night.

It is only the backs of my ankles that hurt, that’s it.. but holy geeze are they sore.

Sooooo, I did nada yesterday and some squats today & that is IT.

Tomorrow I am aiming to get out first thing in the a.m. before we hit 90 degrees again *gag* and just get it done so that anything I do throughout the rest of the day is just a bonus burn. I am certainly not looking forward to continuing this through the summer before going on the cruise but at the same time I am excited to see how I handle it. I am MOST excited to run a full 5K…start to finish. 🙂

Okay…not really…I am MOST excited to go on vacation but the 5k will get me by until September! I want to be one of the crazies [that I may or may not have made fun of in the past] that runs everyday on vacation. AND…my Vibrams will barely take up any space in my suitcase so I have room for more souvenirs.

score!

bad, bad blogger.

It started a few weeks ago when I went through the worst pain e.v.e.r. Literally. Ever. Child birth was a breeze in comparison to a severely infected wisdom tooth. Had that removed and then tweaked my back then got sick….all that and my running career took a hiatus.

Started back over the weekend thanks to my hub and feeling totally fantastic. Even went out & got some Vibram’s!!! Wore them for yesterday’s walk/run and shockingly I have zero pain in my feet & legs like I thought I would! My ankles were mildly sore last night but today I am 100%! I feel weird in them…like I am running in socks. Weird.

The “big” news now….

Well, I have 2 things that could be considered “big” I guess, one FAR more exciting than the other…

1) Our first 5k is at the end of May!! The hub & I plan to do it together and I want to run the WHOLE thing!! (this is the least exciting but most ambitious of the 2)

2) We booked a cruise for Sept.!!! This will be our first vacation in almost 4 years and I am more excited than words can accurately describe.

So now comes the change in my workout…not only am I working towards a faster mile for the 5k but ALSO to get in [much much much better] shape. A shape other than round. A less lumpy shape. A shape closer to that of say…Jillian Michaels. I am eating tons of fruit and trying to stick to mainly water but I hate, hate, HATE dieting so I am trying to stay away from that term or concept by aiming for healthier foods instead of limiting myself to “X” amount of calories or carbs or fat or whatever each day.

164 days and I’ll be running the deck of a cruise ship :o)

growin’ on me..

I look forward to running.

 

Totally did not expect that.

 

I messed up big time the past 2 days when I planned to run today due to conflicting scheduled activities yesterday but it turns out I am just losing my mind because my kid’s class was tonight, not last night when I drove there at 5:30 only to be turned away & looked at like I had “idiot” sharpie’d across my face.

 

Losing your mind is a tricky thing to come to terms with.

 

I mapped out my next route & it is a little over 4 miles! I am excited to see how I feel going that far & what my time is! I think I have learned to control my breathing well enough to push myself just a bit further and I will be bringing a small bottle of water too. I kinda want to stash a cooler with some water bottles in it in the woods somewhere around my halfway point so I never have to carry a bottle though but then I would worry that someone would find it & pee on all the bottles then put them all back in like they were never touched & I would unknowingly get pee on my lips and freak out over 2 miles from home.

 

That would suck.

 

 

love your body.

So I saw this article on my Facebook wall and had to share! It is just what I needed to be reminded of because even though I set out to not run to lose weight I still think that way.  Some visual inspiration as well…

There will be a day when you can no longer do this...today is NOT that day.

 

Enjoy!

10 Ways to Love Your Body

I honestly believe that our bodies are our temples, but I can promise you that no one is going to be kneeling at your altar if you’re not already rejoicing in your own unique beauty. A big step toward positive self body image is to think of your body as your friend, not your enemy. Think about it: Your body takes you to amazing places, like for long walks on the beach or hiking up a mountain trail. Your body gets to be hugged and kissed by loved ones every day. And above all else, fellow mamas, your body created life. 

So to get you to be a better body worshipper (of your body), here are 10 ways to love your body, courtesy of the National Eating Disorders Association, of which I am a member:

1.

Become aware of what your body can do each day. Remember, it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament.

2.

Don’t let your weight or shape keep you from activities you enjoy.

3.

Wear comfortable clothes that you like and feel good to your body.

4.

Count your blessings, not your blemishes.

5.

Every evening when you go to bed, tell your body how much you appreciate what it has allowed you to do throughout the day.

6.

Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Don’t exercise to lose weight or to fight your body shape. Do it to make your body healthy and strong because it makes you feel good.

7.

Think back to a time in your life when you felt good about your body. Tell yourself you can feel like that again, even in this body, at this age.

8.

Start saying to yourself, “Life is too short to waste my time hating my body this way.”

9.

Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Surround yourself with people who remind you of your inner strength and beauty.

10.

Create a list of people you admire—people who have contributed to your life, your community, or to the world. Consider whether their appearance was important to their success and accomplishments.

11.

Your body is the vehicle to your dreams. Honor it. Respect it. Fuel it.

Getting stronger.

I am amazed at how quickly my body has adapted to running. My breathing is better, my heart rate seems better… that first day I was short of breath after minutes and counting down until I could turn around and go home. My past few runs have lasted 45+ minutes and I recover quickly too!!

 

I am not fast.

 

and I stink.

 

I start with walking fast for 5-10 minutes then run as far as I can.

 

Walk.

 

Run.

 

Walk.

 

Run

 

Walk.

 

Run.

 

You get the idea.

 

I pretty much run as far as I can then walk until I recover then run as far as I can again and so on.

 

Today I would look ahead of me & focus on something…a mailbox, a tree, etc. and not stop running until I got to whatever it was and that seemed to work pretty good. It’s a good thing I have poor eyesight though. 😉

 

My last 2 runs have averaged a 13 minute mile, much slower than I thought. I WAS aiming for something ridiculous like an 8 minute mile by the end of my 3 months but I feel like 10-10.5 might be more attainable and realistic.

 

My playlist today was 90’s rock, the stuff I loved back when I was skinny & DID run an 8 minute mile! It made me think I could run a whole mile without walking but after 2 blocks my butt literally detached itself from my body, bounced around in front of me & smacked me in the face for thinking such a thought. I was scared so I just walked for the next few blocks.

 

ps. not a runner yet.

Well rounded laziness…

A few tips today!

1. If you set out to write a blog about something you should actually post occasionally. Gaining readers is largely based on having something for them to read. (I know, shocking!)

2. Do not make excuses like “I’d rather eat Valentine candy while I read free Kindle books,” instead of doing what you set out to document in a fairly regular blog. (unless you set out to actually eat Valentine candy & read free Kindle books, that is….in which case, good for you!!)

3. Avoid wearing your hoodlie with pockets specifically so you can tote said Valentine candy along while you run..it defeats a lot of the purpose.

4. Do NOT whack your funny bone on the corner in the bathroom when you sit down to pee, it really hurts.

So, there you have it! I am not only physically lazy but lazy about blogging as well!! I have run, not near as much as I SHOULD be running, however. Today was BEAUTIFUL too, I would have had a fantastic run but I kept thinking how comfy I was sans sport bra and sneakers. BUT…..tomorrow I AM going and making it an extra long one! The kids are going with my in-laws to the zoo for a few [glorious] hours in the morning which leaves me open to run like the wind!!! More like a reeeeeally gentle yet kind of awkward breeze but I won’t have to worry about hurrying home to make dinner or any of that such nonsense! WIN!

It’s about time…

Yesterday I FINALLY got to get out & run. Well, in all honesty I mostly walked fast but I worked up a good sweat doing it. 28 minutes total.

I went pretty early on thinking that getting it out of the way was best (plus it was a fantastic excuse to avoid the laundry) and I am SO glad I did because it rained for the rest of the day! A tiny part of me was a little irritated that I did not wait & have the excuse of rain to use but it was a very tiny part…probably my sweaty boobs…which really is not a tiny part at all, I guess.

There is one spot where I come down a small hill & the view straight ahead is a horse pasture and at that moment the breeze picked up & I felt so good about myself, about moving my body and sweating & breathing deeply…it felt so so so lovely that I decided right then & there that I will include that particular hill on my run as often as I can.

Oh, I totally thought that it was going to be the up beat songs that kept me at a good pace so that is primarily what I have on my playlist. Well, a very sad song came on, one that makes me think of very very sad times & events and it somehow pushed me even harder than the faster songs seem to.

whodathunk?

forced to be lazy.

Okay, not FORCED but almost. In the past 7 days there has only been ONE opportunity that I could should have gone running.

one.

I did not take it either because laundry was beckoning me and the hub is not fond of going to work pantsless. (what a baby. right?)

So I have a question for you today!

What is your bad weather/sick kid/afraid to run in the dark because you live in the sticks where there are no street lights & possible crazies workout?

Yoga? Jumping jacks? A particular DVD? Dancing?

I need some motivation to continue building endurance  while I am unable to get out there & run!

I need motivation because I am pretty sure I heard my butt & thighs cry out in desperation when I sat on them in front of my computer yet again.

They’d appreciate anything at this point.